Piano key and key bed



C. FARNY PIANO KEY AND KEY BED Dec. 23, 1941.

Hu 2 t l w m fil a m H H l T H w H 4 0 5/ M W @l d, e m H s .K m %w MM m E V m w H m 0 Patented Dec. 23, 1941 PIANO KEY AND KEY BED Cyril Farny, St. Charles, 111;, assigncr to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation Application April 4, 1940, Serial No. 327,796

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a piano key, key bed and key fingers which may be formed of die cast metal for use primarily in the keyboard of a piano, but with modifications in piano accordions, organs and harpsichords.

In the conventional construction of piano keys and key beds, a problem is encountered due to the fact that while the keyboards with the natural and sharp keys thereon are of a standard size and form, the back end of the key bed, includin the key fingers, varies in most instruments, due to the fact that the division in the spacing of the strings and piano action is different for nearly every model of piano and for every manufacturer thereof. This prevents standardizing of piano keyboards. For example, it would require, instead of 7 forms or dies for the 7 different types of keys, 88 forms or dies because the back ends of the keys or key fingers are all different. This condition has made it prohibitive to form or cast the keys of a plastic material, such as Celluloid or the like, since the numerous dies would be too costly.

The object of this invention is to devise an all metal key and key bed which may be die cast from zinc or metal alloy, the surface of which may be finished to resemble the usual black and white ivory or Celluloid finish by coating the keys with baked enamel or the like, and wherein the keys throughout the entire keyboard may be cast from 7 dies for all models of instruments. This is accomplished by forming the key finger integrally with the key, but of such construction that it may be readily bent to conform to its position with respect to the spacing of the particular piano action, scale or string division thereof, and varied in length in accordance therewith.

Other features of the invention will be made apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a portion of the keyboard with a pair of natural keys and a sharp key, with their key fingers. 2 is the same as Fig. 1, showing a side elevation. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 1, showing a front elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the key bed with the keys removed. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the front rail octave unit. Fig. 7 is an end view thereof. Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing an octave unit of the balance rail. Fig. 10 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line H -l| of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 shows a side elevation of a modified form of key and front guide rail. Fig. 13 is a sectiontaken on the line I3l3 of Fig. 12',

In the drawings there is shown a section of a keyboard which is particularly applicable to a piano, but which, with modifications, may. be equally applicable to a piano accordion, organ or harpsichord keyboard. Said keyboard comprises a key bed It having screwed thereto a cast metal front guide rail H with integrally formed upstanding guide pins 12 for the natural keys and ins l3 for the sharp keys. Spaced'therefrom and extending parallel thereto there is a cast metal balance rail 14 which is screwed to the key bed and having integrally formed therewith the upstanding and slightly angularly positioned balance pins l5 for the natural keysand [5.for the sharp keys. The upper surface of each of said rails is provided with a felt stop strip I! of the usual type, a similar strip l8being provided along the back portion of the key bed.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, said rails are cast in octave units, as indicated at Ila and Ma, with fractional units at each end thereof, as indicated at llb, Ho and I41), I40. Each of the octave units Ila are identical and may be produced from the same die or mold. The same is true of each of the units Ma, as well as the units Hb, llc, Mb and Me. Cast metal octave units may then be assembled and secured to the key bed to form their respective front and balance rails, as shown in Fig. 5.

The natural key 20 comprises a unitary body structure die cast or molded from metal and is suitably finished with a baked enamel or the like to simulate, both as to appearance, form and size, the conventional key usually made of wood with an ivory or Celluloid facing. Near the front end of said keys, which are hollowed so as to be open at their bottom, as shown in Fig. 4, a pair of downwardly extending parallel spaced and vertical fins 2! are formed integral with the top surface. Said fins are provided on their inner surfaces with felt bushings 22, the fins with their bushings being so spaced as to embrace the guide pin I2 so as to be guided in the vertical movement of the key.

Similarly, the sharp keys 23 are cast with suitable fins 24 having felt bushings 25 to embrace and be guided by the sharp guide pins l3.

Cast integrally with the keys and extending rearwardly therefrom there are key fingers 26 for the natural keys 2i) and 21 for the sharp keys 23. Said key fingers are of substantial depth, to the extent of the natural keys, to lend rigidly thereto in a vertical direction, but are narrow as to width to permit them to be slightly bent for accommodation to variations in the spacing and division of the various piano actions. Near the keys and over the balance rail I4 the finger keys are cast with an enlarged loop portion indicated at 28 in the key fingers 26, and at 29 in the key fingers 21. The inner surfaces of the loops are tapered, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2', indicated at 33. The loops 28 and 29 are adapted to embrace the balance rail pins l5 and I6, respectively.

Beyond the loop portions and at the rear of the key fingers they are formed with bifurcated fork portions indicated at 3!, into which a wooden block 32 may be adjusted and rigidly locked, said block being adapted to receive and support for adjustment the usual capstan screw 33.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the key bed may be formed by assembling a series of small castings made from three dies and which include the guide pins. The same is true of the balance rail and the balance pins. Similarly, all the keys may be cast from '7 dies, including both the naturals and the sharps, representing each key in the octave. The keys may thereupon be readily assembled and mountedupon the key bed by applying a slight bend to their respective key fingers for aligning said fingers with the particular piano action to which they are applied.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the key I 26 is formed with a central guide fin |2| instead of the spaced fins 2| of Fig. 4. correspondingly, the front rail HI is cast with a pair'of spaced guide pins H2 provided with felt'bushings I22 on their inner faces between which the single fin l2| may be guided.

The invention claimed is:

Y (1. A cast/metal piano key formed with a top provided intermediate the ends of said finger forpivotally locating said key, spaced arms formed on the free end of said finger, and a wooden block secured between said arms for supporting a capstan screw therein.

2. A piano key comprising a unitary body structure of substantially rigid die cast material capable of being deformed and including a finger engaging portion and a rear operating portion, said finger engaging portion of conventional size and shape and said rear operating portion of reduced lateral dimension but of substantial depth, whereby said operating portion will possess rigidity in a vertical direction but is deformable in a lateral direction, and a capstan-bearing portion on said rear operating portion.

3. A piano key comprising a unitary body structure of substantially rigid die cast material capable of being deformed and including a finger engaging portion and a rear operating portion, said finger engaging portion of conventional size and shape and said rear operating portion of reduced lateral dimension but of substantial depth, whereby said operating portion will possess rigidity in a vertical direction but is deformable in a lateral direction, a capstanbearing portion on said rear operating portion, and a loop engaging portion inwardly from the ends of said rear operating portion.

4. A piano key comprising a unitary body structure of substantially rigid die cast material capable of being deformed and including a finger engaging portion and a rear operating portion, said finger engaging portion of conventional size and shape and said rear operating portion of reduced lateral dimension but of substantial depth, whereby said operating portion will possess rigidity in a vertical direction but is deformable in a lateral direction, pliable fins depending from the finger engaging portion of said key in spaced relation to each other and adapted to be bent more or less into frictional engagement with the upstanding pin of a guide rail to govern the action of said key.

5. A piano key comprising a unitary body structure of substantially rigid die cast material capable of being deformed and including a finger engaging portion and a rear operating portion, said finger engaging portion of conventional size andshape and the said rear operating portion of reduced lateral dimension but of substantial depth, whereby said operating portion will possess rigidity in a vertical direction but is deformable in a lateral direction, and a pin depending from the finger engaging portion of said key to be frictionally engaged by the spaced upstanding fins of a guide rail to govern the action of said keys.

CYRIL' FARNY. 

